Cleaning My Kids Rooms?

I have three girl 11, 5 and 2. The 5yr old and 2yr old share a room. However they all help in cleaning their room. I let them go in and clean to a point they think it is "good" and then I go in after them and put all the stuff that is not in the correct place in the middle of the room. I then let them do a second round. They do come to me while putting stuff away from the middle of the room asking where it should go - and at that point I help them decide the best place for it or where it exactly belongs. This system seams to work for us and each time there is less stuff I end up putting in the middle of the room.

My kids are expected to keep their rooms *tidy*. A place for everything and everything in it's place. But I don't expect them to vacuum under the bed, mop the floor or get any cobwebs down from the ceiling. I do insist on a tidy room, because it's easier for me to clean a tidy room. So kinda depends on what you mean by "clean" their room. Certainly, an 11 yr old, 8yr old and 4yr old are perfectly capable of keeping their rooms tidy by themselves, and if that's how you want things in your home, you are perfectly within reason to expect that from them without tidying up after them in their own rooms. Of course, if you WANT to clean their rooms while they're at school, that's ok, too. Your house, your rules.

No, they are OLD enough to know better. I tell my 7 year old she has "x" amount of time to pick up her room, and that I want everything in its place. Not under the bed, behind the dresser, behind the closet door, etc... I will be coming in with a trash can to "throw away" what ever is left on the floor. when you come in, they will plead with you "NOOOOOO!!" DON"T GIVE IN, BE STRONG. It is not permanent. I have thrown shoes, clothes, favorite animals in the trash can, ( of course it is a clean bag, I keep it in the garage for a later date to return them when they don't even remember it anymore and put it up) Her room stays clean longer. Now all I have to say is " Time to clean up your room, I will be by with a trashcan to pick up left overs." Works everytime. My son, who is 10 keeps his room organized. I am convinced it is a personality issue. Hope this helps! It has for me. :p

I help once a week with the deep cleaning for my 8yo. The every day cleaning, he does himself. As he gets better and better with the deep clean, the less it's me "helping" and the more it's just company making a job go faster. Same as when he helps me with my work.

I think it helps when you work along side them maybe one day a week and teach them some things about how to make it look organized. Sometimes we just want to tell them jobs to do but we forget they need taught how to do a job right, we have lots of young people in our work force that don't know how to do some simple task and organizing is one of them. hope this helps you and your children.

I expect my children (ages 11, 8, and 4) to pick up/tidy their rooms. The two oldest share a room, the youngest has his own. My older children strip their own beds on the designated day but as for cleaning the floor, ceiling fans, windows, dusting, and vacuuming their large area rug, I do that. Though, my older children are doing more which makes me happy! It is not unreasonable to expect children of any age to pick up their toys and put them where they belong. I refuse to clean my children's rooms when they are littered with toys all over the floor.

Some parents believe that the child's room is his/her area and should be allowed to keep his/her room however they want. I cannot disagree more this is idea! I tell my kiddos they can keep a messy house when they move out on their own but as long as mommy and daddy pay all the bills for the house which they live in, we expect them to keep their rooms clean and tidy.

I clean as far as.. sweeping, mopping (hard wood floors) dusting.. etc.. but the toys.. I have my kids pick up.. I tell them 'if you make a mess you clean it'.. I mean granted I help and I do straighten up.. every so often I go thru the toy barrel and the toy shelf and put stuff back were it belongs and get rid of the broken toys that are beyond repair. But I guess straightening up is one thing.. You being their maid is another..lol I think it teaches my kids good structure and also is no surprise to them when we go somewhere and they have to help clean up. I've never had a prob w/ my kids at school, home or at a friends house w/ cleaning up .. etc.. Good Luck :) I'll check back, I'm intrested in what other moms do :)

My daughter's room was her space to keep as she liked. The only rule was no dirty dishes, no food, and no food wrappers were to be left in her room.
She was a slob, and that was okay - I just closed the door to her room so that I didn't have to look at the mess.

For the most part, I let my kids clean their own rooms and keep them somewhat like what want. Ocassionally, I'll help them clean their rooms and get rid of some the the junk or go through the cloths.

What about having them all do chores that are age appropriate that help out the group? That way everybody is contributing and it takes off a lot of the burden on you.
I only have one, but he is responsible for mostly the easy stuff. He puts away his own laundry, he puts the dirty stuff in the hamper, makes his bed, and keeps his bathroom counters wiped down. I usually do the deep cleaning and the tidy stuff like organizing the sock drawers and closet. On the weekends he will usually vaccum his room while I get the rest of the house. If something is particular trying, I will sit in his room and help him organize it.

I am guilty of helping my kids clean their rooms. I tell them to do it and they do...but I usually go in with them every month or two and do a 'real' cleaning job :)

My kids are 19, 16, 7, 5 & 3!

I am torn by this question myself. We currently allow the kids to have their room as their space and they keep it how it ends up. We go in about once a month a cull out stuff that can't seem to be kept off the floors and gets walked on and broken. Those toys are not replace for a very long, long time.

Depends. My 11 yr olds share a room so it gets pretty bad. When it gets absolute horrible, we get in there. We try to just sweep a huge pile and make them pick it up or threaten to throw it out--and we have. Other times I just get in there and sort things through and get rid of stuff--and take back the cups and spoons and dirty clothes. But since I really don't have time for that, not very often.

Oh Stephanie -

I have a 14 year old boy and I just close the door to his room now. LOL

Seriously, his idea of clean is not mine - he just stacks things in the corners and at the foot of his bed, creating a pathway around the room. I make him move everything and sweep and mop but have given up on the clutter as long as it is contained. He does have a thing about clean sheets and washes and changes those weekly without prompting :)

The only time I clean anything in his room is every August when I go through all his clothing and pull out everything that does not fit - I do this when he is not home so I can get rid of the things that I know don't fit but that I know he will want to keep.

His room is his space and just like I don't want him want prowling through my room I try and respect his space. I do expect a modicum of cleanliness and he knows that I have the right as the parent and home owner to go through his room if I deem it necessary.

The one thing I have noticed is that he tends to "power clean" his room when he has friends coming over. Hmmm, I tend to that also.

As long as their rooms do not become a bio-hazard, I think it is okay to let them keep it up themselves.